Combination sound producing and object ejecting device



March 21, 1939. H. N. PRENSKY ET AL 2,151,330

COMBINATION SOUND PRODUCING AND OBJECT EJECTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28,1938 Li n.- [I mum "IIHHIM.

. INVENTORS EUGENE G/P/ESHABER l/JIQOLD M PRENS k Y AW WTORNEY PatentedMar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION SOUND PRODUCINGAND OBJECT EJECTING DEVKCE Harold N. Prensky, Forest Hills, and EugeneGrieshaber, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.

This invention relates to devices for producing sounds of intermittentand varying duration and for ejecting an object immediately subsequentto the period of the sound of longest duration. The

nature of the invention lends itself to be employed in toys in which thesound produced simulates, for instance, the duck and cackle of a hen andthe objects released, simulated eggs, the

latter being released subsequent to the clucking sounds and during thecackling sound substantially as occurs in nature.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a toy of theabove character which is attractive, simple of construction, and quiteeasy to assemble and operate.

The invention further resides in the structural features of the soundproducing means and in the co-related means for releasing and droppingthe mentioned object.

With the foregoing and many other features, objects, and advantages inmind, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement 'such asillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown. The following specification, based on saiddrawing, describes in detail the features of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away, of a toy incorporating thefeatures of-the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end sectional view thereof as taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view of the mechanism used in the toy.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view of a portion ofthe mechanism.

In that embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, the toycontemplated comprises a preferably sheet metal housing 5 designed andcolored to simulate a hen setting in a basket or the like. The housing,in this instance, is formed of two parts for ease of assembly therein ofthe sound-producing and object-releasing mechanism generally designated6.

The sound-producing portion of the mechanismwill be first described. Itcomprises a tubular member 1 having an end diaphragm 8 on with the toyhousing 5 to serve as means for anchoring the mechanism 6 within saidhousing.

The legs ID of the frame are apertured for the shaft portion 14 of acrank handle I 5, the latter projecting outside of the toy housing 5. Inthe present instance at least the shaft portion is of polygonalcross-section to serve as keying means for the sleeve I6 and the gearpinion ll mounted thereon. In this manner the sleeve It may slide on theshaft and turn therewith.

The sleeve I6 serves to mount the two plate members i 8 and IS. Theformer is formed with two opposed serrated peripheral edges 20 ofrelatively short extent and the latter, with a continuous peripheralserrated edge 2| of substantially greater extent with respect to theedges 20. These serrated edges are related to the reed 9 in a manner tovibrate said reed upon turning of the crank handle 15.

Between the sleeve l6 and the pinion ll are disposed a cylindrical cam22 having an edge cam face 23, and a sleeve 24 carrying an arm 24 havingengagement with said cam face. Both the cam 22 and the sleeve 24 areformed with round central bores so as not to be affected by the rotationof the shaft M. A compression spring 25 is strung on the shaft betweenone of the frame legs l0 and the outer end of the sleeve 16 to normallymaintain in abutment the sleeves l6 and 24, the cam 22 and the pinionll.

Upon the cam 22 is preferably carried a gear wheel 26 having engagementwith a pinion 21, the latter being integral with or aflixed to a gear 28in mesh with the mentioned pinion ll. The pinion 21 and gear 28 aremounted for rotation on or with the'stud shaft 29 carried by the frameleg l0 and a bracket 39 carried thereby.

From the above it is evident that turning of the crank handle l5 willcause the plates I8 and I9 and the gear I! to turn at the same rate ofspeed as said handle and since the arm 24 is disposed on the low part ofthe cam face 23, the plate [8 will have engagement with the reed 9. Thusthe opposed edges 20 of said plate will alternately vibrate said reed toproduce an intermittent sound simulating the clucking of a hen.

As the rotation of the handle progresses, the mentioned gearing causesslower rotation of the cam 22 and the cam face gradually urges thesleeves-24 and I6 endwise against the compression of the spring 25. Inthe present showing the relation of speed of the shaft and cam areapproximately five to one and thus the plate I B will have fiverevolutions to each revolution of the cam. Hence approximately tenclucks are produced by the serrated edges 20 intermittently vibratingthe reed.

As the high-point of the cam becomes effective on the arm 24, the platel8 loses engagement with the reed and. the plate l9 comes intoengagesounds may be repeated. It will be noted from the drawing the highpart of the cam may have increased pitch with respect to'the normalpitch of said cam to cause a more rapid traverse of'the I plates I 8 andH! as they exchange engagement with the reed.

The article releasing portion of the mechanism comprises a.substantially vertically disposed stacking hopper 3| having an upperopening accessible through the housing 5 so that articles such as thesimulated eggs 32 may be dropped therein to be supported on thehorizontally disposed lug 33 formed on an extension of the arm 24 thelatter protruding through a slot 34 formed in the bridge H. Below saidlug is disposed a chute 35 directed towards an opening 36 in the toyhousing 5.

From the above it is apparent that as the handle is turned and the arm24 moves endwise by the cam, the lug 33 will gradually move fromvbeneath the lowermost object 32 so that said object will fall upon thehorizontal portion 31 of the chute. Then simultaneously with the lastportion of the cackle, i. e., when the arm rides ofi the high point ofthe cam, the extension of the arm 24, with the force of the spring 25,will eject the object 32 down the chute 35 and through the opening 36 inthe housing.

The foregoing is descriptive of a preferred form of the invention and itis evident that an attractive, amusing, and quite simple device has ben/disclosed. It is also evident that changes within the spirit and scopeof the invention may be made by those skilled in the art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A combined sound producing and object ejecting device comprising amanually rotatable shaft, a pair of plates on said shaft, one havingrelatively small serrated peripheral portions and the other a relativelygreater serrated peripheral portion, vibration means including a reed,means operable upon rotation of said shaft for first contacting one ofsaid plates with said reed and then the other, a stack of objects, andmeans connected with said last mentioned means for ejecting from saidstack the lowermost object immediately subsequent to the contact betweenthe reed and the plate having the greater serrated peripheral portion.

2. A combined sound producing and object ejecting device comprising amanually rotatable shaft, sound producing means comprising vibrationmeans having a reed and a pair of plates on said shaft and rotatabletherewith, means operable by said shaft for moving said plates intoalternate engagement with said reed, a stack of objects, and meansconnected with said last mentioned means for ejecting from said stackthe lowermost object immediately subsequent to the engagement betweenthe reed and one of said plates.

3. A combined sound producing and object ejecting device comprising amanually rotatable shaft, sound producing means comprising vibrationmeans having a reed and a pair of plates reed, a stack'of objects, andmeans connected with said last mentioned means. for ejecting from saidstack the lowermost .obiect immediately subsequent to the engagementbetween the reed and the plate having the greater peripheral serrations.

4. A combined sound producing and object ejecting device comprising amanually rotatable shaft, sound producing means comprising vibrationmeans having a reed and at least one plate on said shaft and rotatabletherewith, means operable by said shaft for axially moving said plateinto and out of engagement with said reed, a stack of objects, and meansconnected with said last mentioned means for ejecting from said stackthe lowermost object immediately subsequent to the engagement betweenthe reed and the plate.

5. A sound producing device comprising a vibration member having 'areed,a manually operable shaft, a pair of plates rotatable with said shaftand slidable thereon, and means operable by said shaft for alternatelyengaging the peripheries of said plates with said reed for vibratingsaid reed during rotation of said shaft, one of said plates havingserrated peripheral portions of, lesser extent than the serratedperipheral portion of the other.

6. A sound producing device comprising a vibration member having a reed,a manually operable shaft, a pair of plates rotatable with said shaftand slidable thereon, and means operable by said shaft for alternatelyengaging the peripheries of said plates with said reed for vibratingsaid reed during rotation of said shaft, said means comprising a cammounted for rotation on said shaft, gear means between said shaft andsaid cam for rotating said cam at a lower rate of speed than the shaft,and means movable by the cam for sliding said plates endwise along saidshaft.

7. In a device of the character described, a sound producing unit havinga vibrating reed, and a pair of peripherally serrated plates movableinto alternate engagement with said reed for vibration thereof.

8. In a device of the character described, a sound producing unit havinga vibrating reed, and a pair of peripherally serrated plates movableinto alternate engagement with said reed for vibration thereof, one ofsaid plates having its serrated portions of lesser extent than theother.

9. In a device of the character described, a sound producing unit havinga vibrating reed, a plate having serrated peripheral portion of smallextent normally in engagement with said reed for vibration thereof, asecond plate having a serrated peripheral portion of greater extent,means for moving the mentioned plates to disengage the first plate andengage the second plate with said reed, and means for restoring saidplates to the mentioned normal condition.

' HAROLD N. PRENSKY. EUGENE GRIESHABER.

ns; of relatively "small extent; theqotherhaving"ad serrated peripheralportion of relatively greater extent,.rneans operable 'by'saidshaft'formoving saidyplates into alternateengagement with said

